Women's hockey tourney at Ice Den

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

The Northern Lights will field two teams while hosting the sixth annual Whitefish Women's Hockey Tournament this weekend. All games will be played at the Stumptown Ice Den, beginning Friday night.

The Northern Lights are composed of players from Whitefish and all over the Flathead Valley. Lini Reading said she and her teammates are ready to go.

"We're really excited," she said. "We haven't been to a tournament yet this year, and we just can't wait to get out on the ice and get in a game."

Each Whitefish team will feature two full lines and a goalkeeper. Six other teams from Montana and Canada will vie for the tournament trophy. There are two brackets, and each bracket will play a round-robin format. The top-two teams in each division, based on points, will play in the final on Sunday.

"We've had a couple extra practice sessions for the team," Reading said. "We're hoping to get a lot of people to come out and watch."

All games are free and open to the public. For more information, call 863-2477.

Friday, Dec. 5

7:30 p.m. Whitefish No. 2 vs. Missoula

9 p.m. Whitefish No. 1 vs. Kootenay

10:30 p.m. Pincher Creek vs. Crowsnest

Saturday, Dec. 6

11:30 a.m. Helena vs. Cranbrook

1 p.m. Kootenay vs. Crowsnest

2:30 p.m. Pincher Creek vs. Whitefish No. 1

4 p.m. Whitefish No. 2 vs. Cranbrook

5:30 p.m. Missoula vs. Helena

7 p.m. Whitefish No. 1 vs. Crowsnest

8:30 p.m. Pincher Creek vs. Kootenay

Sunday, Dec. 7

7 a.m. Cranbrook vs. Missoula

8:30 a.m. Helena vs. Whitefish No. 2

10 a.m. TBA - Group A Final

11:30 a.m. TBA - Group B Final

Group A

Crowsnest Pass Wolves

Kootenay Wildcats

Whitefish Northern Lights No. 1

Pincher Creek

Group B

Missoula Frost

Cranbrook Shooters

Whitefish Northern Lights No. 2

She-nooks Helena